Transport yourself into Dota 2's esport battle arena using VR

The next tournament for esports smash Dota 2 will be a little different, with the event 'broadcast' in virtual reality for the first time.

Dota 2 is a multiplayer online battle arena with a huge global following. The competitive game sees two teams of five players each attacking the other's defences. With more than 100 playable heroes, each with their own skills, matches can be hugely varied to watch, making it one of the most prominent esports titles.

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Its annual tournament, The International, sees players from around the world competing for a significant prize pool. This year's event is currently sitting at $18.7m, so competition is sure to be fierce. But even for the most ardent esports fan, watching others play a game is an inherently passive experience - until now.

In the latest update, Valve has introduced the Dota 2 VR Hub, which allows viewers to watch matches from inside the arena, or from the battefield of the game itself. Fans can "watch live matches, replays, and streams in VR Theater with up to 15 of your friends".

Using an HTC Vive, players can join lobbies to view matches, either public or private. Both support up to 16 viewers at a time, and the mode features voice chat. Social encounters are a big part of the hub, with users able to virtually walk around and collect masks to modify their appearance.

Even better, the VR Hub lets you jump right into the game's map, allowing you to follow the action as if the creatures and warriors around you were life-sized. There's also a form of gallery mode, letting you "browse through Dota's wide array of heroes to see all of your favourite items in full scale".

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The update, which is available for free now and weighs in at around 300Mb, is still a work in progress, but Valve says it is working fast to improve it. "We will continue to improve the Dota VR Hub as we approach The International," the company says, "so try it out and let us know what you think."

Most exciting, perhaps, is what the VR Hub might lead to. Although very much aimed at spectators at the moment, could Valve be planning something more in-depth for virtual reality multiplayer gaming once it's worked out the kinks?

If you want a look at what the Dota 2 VR Hub looks like in action, YouTuber Travis Howse has a brief run-through here.